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A Face Launches 1,000 Apps

Long the realm of science fiction, advanced technologies that identify faces now are emerging as the hottest entertainment gimmick, despite the potential for privacy concerns.

One of the latest is SceneTap, a free application for iPhone and Android smartphones released in recent weeks that displays real-time stats on the local bar scene. Based on information collected via face-detection cameras installed at participating bars, the app shows the number of people at the bar, the male-to-female ratio and the average age of patrons.